Disney has secured a significant deal, reportedly in the seven-figure range, to adapt Katherine Rundell’s highly acclaimed "Impossible Creatures" book series. This move by the studio is seen as a strategic bid to find the next major global fantasy franchise, a void that Hollywood has been attempting to fill for over a decade since the immense success of Harry Potter.

The "Impossible Creatures" series, which debuted its first book in 2023 and followed with "The Poison King" this year, has already garnered significant praise and is being hailed as a modern classic in the making. Author Katherine Rundell, who will also be penning the screenplays for the adaptations, plans for a comprehensive five-part main series, complemented by potential spinoffs set within the same expansive universe, known as Gilmouria.

The franchise potential of Rundell’s work is undeniable, having sold over four million copies worldwide. Notably, Katherine Rundell holds the distinction of being the first U.K. children’s author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously achieve the No. 1 spot on both the U.S. and U.K. charts. This widespread popularity and critical acclaim naturally attracted considerable bidding interest from major players like Warner Bros. and Netflix, but Disney ultimately emerged victorious in securing the rights.

Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed profound enthusiasm for Rundell’s literary creation. “When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged here at Disney,” Iger stated. He added, “I was immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined and the possibilities of what we could do together with this story. Written by Katherine herself, these movies are in the best of hands with our Walt Disney Studios team, and I can't wait to see this tale brought to the screen.”

Katherine Rundell, who is also a Fellow at Oxford and co-founder of her production company, Impossible Films, with Charles Collier, echoed Iger’s excitement. “I'm absolutely thrilled to be linking arms with Disney. It's a privilege to be writing these screenplays and developing these first movies in the franchise together with Charles, my team at Impossible Films, and with the exceptional team at Disney,” Rundell remarked. She extended her gratitude to Bob Iger for his initial enthusiasm and to Alan Bergman and David Greenbaum for their partnership, articulating the shared ambition: “Our ambition is to build Gilmouria and Impossible Creatures into a spectacular series of films, so that we can entertain and inspire family audiences across the world.”

The timing for this acquisition appears particularly opportune for Disney. The arrival of "Impossible Creatures" coincides with a cultural moment where J.K. Rowling’s legacy has become complicated by ongoing controversies, which has created a discernible opening in the market for a fresh, globally resonant fantasy juggernaut. Disney is clearly positioning Rundell’s imaginative world to fill this significant market gap, with anticipation building to see if it indeed captures the imagination of audiences worldwide.